other womens bodys are not our battle grounds- Rupi Kaur

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Belfast

I remember the way that we touched I wish I didn’t like it so much I get so emotional, baby Every time I think of you I get so emotional, baby Ain’t it shocking what love can do

Location: Botanic Gardens Belfast

Suprise its me !

I am back with a new attitude, new look and new approach. Getting back into blogging and reinventing myself on my social medias really helped me get back to the core of why I began blogging and vlogging back in 2008/2009 and more recently I have really got happier in accepting my approach to the whole thing. I am here for me, I am here for fun and I am here because I feel like I still want to share my opinion and voice my thoughts and feelings.

A few recent physical changes are that after vowing not to dye my hair and to grow it out I cut off 2 inches, bleached it and coloured it neon pink and orange ( directions hairdye is the bomb.com) and I couldn’t be happier.

Also my obsession with Rupauls drag race is now probably blindingly obvious, I was team sasha from day one and SPOILER ALERT I was so happy that beauty be damned and monsters reign for this next year!

If you want to join the revolution: innovate, that’s my solution!

Rings- Topshop Finer range £3 each in Sale

Even though I am trying to come back again with a new attitude I still cannot not use my favourite location of Botanic gardens. I knew that the rose garden would probaby be in bloom by now and I think Sashas lipsync was so strongly in my mind that I had to recreate it for the blog!

“Few of us ever live in the present. We are forever anticipating what is to come or remembering what has gone.” ― Louis L’Amour

Location: Botanical gardens & The MAC gallery

I definitely didn’t forget that I had this blog post ready to go… nope… not at all

I decided to take a slightly different approach this weekends post and I am going to combine a couple of days together, this weekend has been so beautiful in terms of weather and the combination of this and not working alot has meant that I have been able to really chill out this weekend. The weather has been so beautiful and in the high teens for the last few days I have tried to spend as much time as I could enjoying the sun. We decided on Friday that we would check out the new MAC gallery exhibition after I have seen #superape all over instagram.

Details:

Denim shearling jacket- Primark

Checkered Shirt dress- Monki

Drop Hem dress- Evans ( Super old stock- like 3 years!)

Fishnet tights- Primark

Metallic Trainers- Primark

PART TWO

The day after spending time at the MAC gallery the weather became practically tropical and mum and I decided to head up to botanic gardens to enjoy the weather. For Belfast anything above ten degrees is tropical which means that places like Botanic gardens always become super duper busy but you can always find a relaxed corner to chill in and enjoy the weather.

“She is a figure of legend and fairy tale, one to be taken seriously, or she might knock you off your feet with a quick whirl of the staff she carries everywhere.” ― Claire Wong, The Runaway

Location: Wine shipment direct building

Another week passes and another dodgy car park in the back end of Belfast city centre is seemingly the ideal location to shoot my outfit. I have to say that the inspiration behind this was totally down to seeing local stylist Eve Brannon shooting here earlier in the week, as soon as I saw her instagrampost about it I knew I had to go for myself. The Legend wall was created by the #BelfastBanksy Glen Mollloy Creative and features ten images of legends both alive and dead.

Finding new locations is pretty difficult I mean Belfast is such an incredible location in itself my issue is nearly always trying to find locations that are accessible to someone who doesn’t drive. Instagram and social media in general is such an incredible tool as I follow so many local creatives it is great to be able to see what is inspiring those around me and trying to create my own original concepts using influence I take from those who inspire me, I have an ode to instagram post planned for the upcoming months so stay tuned for that!

I’m the dandy highwayman so sick of easy fashionthe clumsy boots, peek-a-boo roots that people think so dashing

MINI STORY: One thing I love about shooting out and about on the streets of Belfast is the reaction of those around for example shooting on an electrical box in a dodgy car park the loveliest women came up and asked mum and I if we wanted her to photograph us together, I dont think she really understood why we would choose this location and its pretty difficult to explain blogging to someone who has no idea at all what it is.

Details:

Distressed denim jacket- Primark new season

Black dip hem dress- super old Evans clothing

Fishnets- Primark

Khaki Boots- Primark

Chub rub shorts- Evans ( you will understand if you see the P.s Pick!)

Glasses- Specsavers Horace frames ( from the mens section !)

P.S

I had to include this picture to highlight that despite trying to act all cool in front of the camera the reality of actually putting together an outfit post is so much more ugly and real. For example it look three attempts to get my fat ass onto this electrical box all whilst the owner of the car in-front was probably in fits of laughter but hey, my whole view is that I probably wont ever see these people again so who cares if I flash my chub rub shorts at them now !

“Be happy in the moment, that’s enough. Each moment is all we need, not more.”- Mother Teresa

Location: High Street Carpark

My name is Taylor-Jayne, I am 24 years old and I am addicted to my faux leather yellow jacket. I would say by now at least fifty percent of my blog posts have featured this jacket and for good reason because it is amazing. If you had told me six months ago that my wardrobe staples would include a bright yellow leather jacket I would have laughed because I would never in a million years think I could l pull it off but it has become hands down my wardrobe essential. Despite the colour it is such a versatile piece and works with nearly everything that I own.

I am going to be 1000% truthful and say that today location is totally inspired by the incredible Lucy ( find her on instagram HERE)I have met Lucy a few times and you know when you are just in awe of someones character and sense of self, Lucy is one of those people. Everything I see her work on through her Instagram inspires me to be more creative.

Finally in Northern Ireland we are beginning to see some sort of Spring like weather and today was just one of those perfect crisp Spring days. After picking up some bargains ( Hello Payday Weekend!) Mum and I decided to use High Street carpark as the location for todays shoot. After we shot we headed across the road to the National and had the most incredible brunch, Hello maple bacon and poached eggs on toast.

Once again I will mention the Gucci addiction because the highstreet is killing it with replica pieces right now. Step forward this incredible red bag from PRIMARK £12 worth of Gucci realness that is my favourite favourite piece I own after my yellow jacket. The bag came into my life via my lovely lil sister who got it for me for my birthday at the end of March and it hasn’t left my body since. The perfect size to use everyday and I can even fit my chromebook and camera in it on days where I am shooting and posting in the same day.

Details:

Yellow leather jacket- Newlook

Embroidered shirt dress- Primark

Stripey skirt- H&M

Fishnet tights- Primark

Metallic Boots- Primark

Handbag- Primark

Bangles- Topshop

Glasses- Specsavers Horace frames ( from the mens section !)

P.S

I wanted to finish this post by including a picture of my Photographer,mother, best friend and support. My mum has no previous photographic expierence but is willing to help and support me with every single thing I put my mind to including creating blog content. She is always willing to walk miles all over town to help me find the perfect photograph and really doesn’t complain at all. She is so creative herself she is always coming up with new angles and ideas that I would never even think of. I wanted today to include her and give her a long long overdue shout out because everything that ByTaylorJayne is becoming is directly because of all her help and support.

“Call on the masses or call on yourself to help forge a better working world – a more gender inclusive world.”

Every year the day has an official theme and this year the theme fell under the title of be bold for change. It was a call to have women all over the world pledge to do something to help change.

Thank you to these girls for allowing me to photograph them and their message 🙂

I am not sure how many of you are from Ireland North or South but one uniting factor is the lack of Abortion laws which are in place in either country, I can only speak from the perspective as someone who has grown up in Northern Ireland so that is how I will base my writings. I have never previously shied away from talking about big topics because I am a firm believer that if you choose to put yourself out there on a social platform that you also should use your platform to discuss openly and honestly about topics that affect you.

I will however preface my opinion by saying that I understand that the vast majority of the population will have a total opposing opinion to my own and that it is ok as long as everyone is respectful of everyone else it is important to have open and challenging conversations as I believe that is how we make and affect change by being opening and honest in our discussions.

In Northern Ireland women can still face 14 years in prison for supplying or being found in possession of drugs which cause an abortion. 14 years , I can’t even let that sink in enough. In the mainland UK women have rights and access yet in Northern Ireland we are simply left with no rights and that scares me. I have to be responsible for my own body, sort my own birth control, work through periods and all the crap that comes along with that yet at the end of the day my reproductive rights are not my own.

Yesterday a peaceful protest in aid of Strike for Repeal was held at the front of Belfast city hall to show solidarity with our sisters in the South of Ireland who were also holding a rally to Repeal the 8th amendment which makes abortion illegal. in 2017 we have no rights over our own bodies which is why is it crucial that we still must go out and protest this law because our Government will not help us. I could write about all the issues with Northern Ireland and our government but I will save that for another day.

What you notice on days of protest is the spirit of everyone there, we are optimistic, and seeing others standing up for what you also believe in is so inspiring. It is my opinion that we need to legalise abortion in order to give it the protection that women deserve when they are having to make this decision. Abortion has always happened and will always happen so having the protection of the NHS or other clinics ensures that we do not have to listen to any more horror stories of women having to travel to the UK mainland in order to go through the procedure. Women are more than just a vessel to make children and our government happily gives more rights to that then they do to the women who have to go through it , not taking into consideration the physical or mental well being of the women.

At the protest I witnessed a man come up right into the face of a women standing with a banner and aggressively argue her that her banner which included the Uterus offended him. When she asked him to remove himself from her face as he was becoming more and more aggressive he turned to the crowd and screamed that we all must just be a bunch of lesbians. That is nothing else perfectly illustrates the mindsets and views that we still find ourselves regularly coming up against. Your opinion is invalid and worthy of being shut down because of a the outdated and naive angry lesbian feminist stereotype that time and time again is used to label us.

If I can make one crucial one out of all of this it is this, even if my opinion is not yours. You may not agree with what I stand for nor do you have to but I urge you that when you see an opportunity to take to the streets and count for something that you find the time to do so. It might be a rally or signing a petition, it might be sharing something on Facebook or another platform. it might be defending you opinion to a random person you encounter in life. Please be respectful and stay safe but above all your opinion is valid you are allowed to show how you feel and you do not have to sit back and take something because it has always been that way. You and your opinion are valid and worthy.

Last year I attended a huge march to protest the laws and this year this is the first but probably not the last rally or march that will be held. Our latest vote in Northern Ireland gives you a small glimmer of hope that we will cling to.

Big issues are not going away and we will not walk away and let the government have the rights to our bodies.

“Flowers always make people better, happier, and more helpful; they are sunshine, food and medicine for the soul.” Luther Burbank

Location: Palm House- Botanic Gardens

Some scenes just don’t need filtered, you may have noticed from my previous posts that I usually try to pick a theme colour for a post and filter the images to all link however when shooting in such a beautiful location I couldn’t possibly choose one colour to try and represent everything that I had seen so no filters today. The Palm house in Botanic gardens is a must see, it is not huge or vast but it is very beautiful. There is also a tropical house but currently it is undergoing a major face lift and isn’t accessible.

I cant be the only person to get an idea and become almost neurotic about it until I can do it. I have been planning this post and this outfit since I decided to begin blogging again but it had become such a pressure because I wanted to do it justice. If I hadn’t mentioned before it is my mum that is my assistant, photographer, collaborator and my everything. she helps with the ideas and the look for each shoot but with no DSLR knowledge she willingly comes with me every time I want to shoot and helps me to create images that I am very proud of.

Unless you did not follow me on any other social medias you might not realise that Gucci is my everything at the minute. They are killing it time after time and each show tops the last. The sequins, glitter and styling is everything I love and as soon as I spied this skirt in the Next sale I got instant GUCCI Vibes. It is actually very easy to style and I do plan on creating a plus size Gucci inspired lookbook very soon and I will show another more Maximal way to style the skirt with other prints to get the authentic Gucci feel however on a daily basis I love it with basic band tees and trainers or as I have done here with the neutral tones throughout the rest of the look to make it the focal point.

Certain places in Belfast just seem to hold so many memories for me. One of them is the Botanic gardens and the Ulster Museum but today I am focusing on the botanical gardens, ever since I can remember bank holidays, summer breaks and weekends have been spent there.

I also wanted to take a minute to showcase this beautiful faux leather jacket. If you follow me on Instagram ( I’m@by_taylorjayne) you will know that last week I spotted this jacket in New look and couldn’t leave the shop without it. It is £40 but was on offer at £30 and I couldn’t say no. I have been after a faux leather jacket forever and was looking to invest in a black version however as soon as I saw this bright mustard yellow my heart skipped a beat and I knew it was coming home with me. For someone who wears alot of blacks and darker tones it is the perfect statement piece but I also find it works just as well with my brighter outfits. I have linked the green version down below as I know currently online they only offer red, green and silver. I know it will become a wardrobe staple of mine during the Spring and Summer months but I am loving it just as much right now !

I spent three years walking between the city centre and titanic quarter for Uni so I know this area like the back of my hand. The big fish is a classic sightseeing spot which has been around for as long as I can remember. We are still in that freezing winter period because I don’t know if you know but if you are not from Northern Ireland then you probably won’t. we unlike the rest of the world have two seasons, cold rain and warm rain. I may seem like I am joking but it is true unfortunately! So it is still a coat and jacket weather and will be until about April.

I actually ended up loving what the wind was doing in the pictures and just went with it!

I decided that at the start of this year that I was going to relaunch and create a new chapter in my life I called By Taylor-Jayne because that is my name. Simple as that. But seriously I wanted it to be simple because I felt like this new chapter was going to be much more personal that previous blogs. I want to use my favourite places as inspiration for the posts and shoot all my posts in areas of Belfast and beyond that are important to me. We begin this new journey in one of my favourite areas of the city centre getting lost along the cobble streets of Cathedral quarter is a great way to find new bars, restaurants and street art that are so inspiring to me.

Last week thanks to the amazing being who is MeganI was lucky enough to be able to attend Lush Belfast’s first ever blogger event. Now unless you were born under a rock and don’t know who or what Lush is I am going to presume that we are all aware of Lush. Lush has been easily one of my favourite shops since I was a kid, I remember saving my pocket money to go in and get a couple of bath bombs and even now at 23 years old I love nothing more than treating myself to a Lush bath after a long day at work. So I was so incredibly excited to be able to go and find out more behind the brand.

#SQUADGOALS aka the Fab Lush Belfast staff. The staff on the night were amazing and talked us through all of the products and how to properly use each item. That’s one thing I have always loved about the in store experience from Lush the staff everywhere I have been are just so helpful and friendly.

Definitely my favourite part of the night was getting to actually make up our own batch of my all time favourite Lush product, Angels on bare skin cleanser. I have used it for years as I find it works brilliantly on my very sensitive skin. What I loved was just how few products were used to make the cleanser and you got to see exactly what goes into it, no nasty chemical rubbish the ingredients are all fresh!

We also got to be some of the first people to see the new Fathers day range which launched in store the next day! The smugglers soul face scrub is my highlight from the range, makes my skin feel incredible. We also got to see the Lava Lamp bath bomb launch, very citrus inspired smell which is perfect for the Spring time!

Another Lovely part of the night was getting to meet alot of new faces ( new to me but believe me they are all blogger pros!) I have to give an extra special shout-out to Sera from Style guide Blog who I have been chatting to online for years and haven’t met until now! You know when you just feel like you have always known someone well I feel like I have always known Sera and was so so happy to final get to meet her.

A HUGE thank you to the lovelies at Lush for being so generous and helpful on the night! I had so much fun playing in the shop after hours and getting an up-close and personal view of all the lovely products in store.